Gulf Air Developments
Joined: Nov 2017
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From: Bahrain
The reason is the rosters are crazy and I mean it, putting you in a lot of pressure with inadequate rest with very limited nightstops it's been like that since about a year and sadly it's not likely to improve in the near future
Other than that it's a friendly environment and the country is the second best in the gulf for expats after the UAE
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: UK
Dr Jaffer ; GF Head of Medical Dept: Note from posts on other subject that it looks as though he passed in July. If correct. RIP indeed. Had my joining medical with him but I moved on before the next one was due. That was when the Medical HQ was in a converted house near the Brit club (I think). Many of you will remember the location and the Dr himself.
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Surrounded by aluminum, and the great outdoors
I'd say now is not a good time to join as cabin crew
The reason is the rosters are crazy and I mean it, putting you in a lot of pressure with inadequate rest with very limited nightstops it's been like that since about a year and sadly it's not likely to improve in the near future
Other than that it's a friendly environment and the country is the second best in the gulf for expats after the UAE
The reason is the rosters are crazy and I mean it, putting you in a lot of pressure with inadequate rest with very limited nightstops it's been like that since about a year and sadly it's not likely to improve in the near future
Other than that it's a friendly environment and the country is the second best in the gulf for expats after the UAE
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,652
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From: 50+ north
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 400
Likes: 8
From: Far East
Dr Jaffer ; GF Head of Medical Dept: Note from posts on other subject that it looks as though he passed in July. If correct. RIP indeed. Had my joining medical with him but I moved on before the next one was due. That was when the Medical HQ was in a converted house near the Brit club (I think). Many of you will remember the location and the Dr himself.
But operate it did. Seem to remember some guy called Tim being in rostering or such. A numbers man I believe. He moved to a fledgling airline in Dubai.
Apologies to thread drift!
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Surrounded by aluminum, and the great outdoors
oh yes.. remember that well! As I do with the "IOC" at the time thinking how on Gs earth can this Golden Falcon airline operate from a ragtag bunch of containers slapped together!
But operate it did. Seem to remember some guy called Tim being in rostering or such. A numbers man I believe. He moved to a fledgling airline in Dubai.
Apologies to thread drift!
But operate it did. Seem to remember some guy called Tim being in rostering or such. A numbers man I believe. He moved to a fledgling airline in Dubai.
Apologies to thread drift!
Joined: Aug 2007
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 816
Likes: 230
From: Cyprus
Oh stop it you lot. Eyes filling up at the thought. Funny how the "in" gate was always open but the "out" gate was checked. Maybe I was driving on the wrong side. But, yes indeed, fond memories and RIP Dr Jaff. He also did my initial med where I scaled in at 82kg. Year later I was 92kg and he warned that if I were Cabin Crew, he would put me on the "Fat List". I switched to Dr Nader where slow, steady weight gain was of no concern !
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Singapore
(p.s R.I.P Doc J ; a great guy )
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Surrounded by aluminum, and the great outdoors
A bit like the old QR ops before the move to the new airport . Prefab (seco) huts in abundance in a very cramped area . Car parking was a real challenge requiring some creative thinking .. But nevertheless an amazingly efficient operation for what was then an already huge fleet .
(p.s R.I.P Doc J ; a great guy )
(p.s R.I.P Doc J ; a great guy )
nobody ever accused Gulf Air of being an "efficient operation"....for decades it was a job fair for brothers cousins and uncles...the pilot side of things worked well, but the rest...well...typical "Tennessee phonebook" (5 inches thick with 3 family names)
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Singapore
Was talking about QR ( Qatar ) , by comparison FAR more efficient than GF . Hopefully things are much better these days ops wise at the Golden Falcon . Of course , no comparison between life in Bahrain and Doha .
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Surrounded by aluminum, and the great outdoors
after passing the selection at QR, I went and spent a week there....no thanks....guess if one never lived anywhere else in the GCC it's ok, but after being spoiled by Bahrain life it would be a bitter pill to swallow..
Last edited by ironbutt57; 16th September 2019 at 02:31. Reason: typo
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 317
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From: Singapore
Should have done like others ; get your Bahrain residency and commute . At one time there were 6 daily QR flights between DOH-BAH ( and 2 GF ) . Sadly those days are long gone .
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Surrounded by aluminum, and the great outdoors
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 0
From: Surrounded by aluminum, and the great outdoors
where did you read that?? the OMA used to specify at the Captain's discretion, another GF pilot, cabin crew, or adult member of an operating cabin crew's family.... it did get abused by ground staff if the Captain was unaware of whats going on in the back....I had outstations putting pax in wheelchairs on the jumpseats, pax with crutches, children, don't believe the cabin crew will know what's allowed or not either...they had happily seated the paraplegic in the jumpseat when I noticed by pure happenstance...after that I always queried pre-boarding if there were any jumpseaters presented by ground staff...in Mumbai the ground staff were telling local cabin crew the Captain had denied their request...shaking the girls down for whiskey or money..one dispatcher in AUH requested a jumpseat for his non airline buddy to TRV...I denied on basis of the OMA...sure enough as the last pax were boarding here shows up a jumpseater...yes he was the buddy...and..he tells me.."well anyway you cant put me off now because I have a checked bag and you will delay the flight to remove it"...flight delayed...bag and jumpseater removed....there was more than one abusive ground staff who got denied jumpseats on my flights...
Last edited by ironbutt57; 19th September 2019 at 01:01.
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 124
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From: 1960s
where did you read that?? the OMA used to specify at the Captain's discretion, another GF pilot, cabin crew, or adult member of an operating cabin crew's family.... it did get abused by ground staff if the Captain was unaware of whats going on in the back....I had outstations putting pax in wheelchairs on the jumpseats, pax with crutches, children, don't believe the cabin crew will know what's allowed or not either...they had happily seated the paraplegic in the jumpseat when I noticed by pure happenstance...after that I always queried pre-boarding if there were any jumpseaters presented by ground staff...in Mumbai the ground staff were telling local cabin crew the Captain had denied their request...shaking the girls down for whiskey or money..one dispatcher in AUH requested a jumpseat for his non airline buddy to TRV...I denied on basis of the OMA...sure enough as the last pax were boarding here shows up a jumpseater...yes he was the buddy...and..he tells me.."well anyway you cant put me off now because I have a checked bag and you will delay the flight to remove it"...flight delayed...bag and jumpseater removed....there was more than one abusive ground staff who got denied jumpseats on my flights...